Challenging VR's Procrustean Bed: Disability, Tactile Epistemologies, Worldbuilding

Challenging VR's Procrustean Bed: Disability, Tactile Epistemologies, Worldbuilding

From Art Is Not a Thing by Ars Electronica

April 9, 2026 · 30 min · Season 2 · Episode 10

About this episode

The episode discusses ableist technologies and the potential of touch in making cultural heritage more accessible.

In this episode, host Ana-Maria Carabelea is joined by artist Iz Paehr to talk about inherently ableist technologies. Their work Feeling Virtual: An Archive of Touch looks at how digital technologies can be used to make cultural heritage more accessible. Challenging the sensorial hierarchies and ableist assumptions built into XR technologies, Iz explores the potential of touch and disabled ways of knowing the world around. Host: Ana-Maria Carabelea Producers: Ana-Maria Carabelea, Christ...

People in this episode

Host: Ana-Maria Carabelea

Guest: Iz Paehr

Topics covered

  • disability
  • tactile epistemologies
  • ableism
  • XR technologies
  • cultural heritage
  • accessibility

Keywords

  • VR
  • disability
  • cultural heritage
  • accessibility
  • touch
  • ableism
  • XR

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Feeling Virtual: An Archive of Touch

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